Liverpool
Four priorities Arne Slot must fix at Liverpool during the international break
Four issues define Liverpool’s October break: defence, Konaté, Wirtz, and Salah at reduced levels…
Liverpool enter the international hiatus with a troubling contrast between record and form. The Reds have won 70% of their matches this season and sit second in the Premier League, yet a recent run of results has exposed clear weaknesses. A seven-game winning start masked problems; Liverpool then lost three games on the spin prior to the October international break for the first time since 2023, beaten away at Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea.
Slot can use the pause to address four pressing issues. First, defensive organisation. Even in victory Liverpool’s defence has been unsettled. In their first five wins this season they surrendered two-goal leads on three separate occasions. They were pegged back twice in the Community Shield as they ultimately fell to Palace on penalties. In the three recent defeats they were already trailing by the 16th minute. Liverpool have conceded nine goals in the Premier League—more than Everton, Sunderland and Bournemouth—and are allowing 1.38 expected goals on average per match. The unit that kept the most clean sheets last season is now being bypassed regularly.
Second, the full-back rebuild has left gaps in transition. The arrival of Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez has brought attacking intent but also exposed space on turnovers, with Frimpong struggling to establish himself as a regular and Kerkez making a disappointing start.
Third, Ibrahima Konaté. The 26-year-old has been singled out during a difficult defensive spell. His recklessness, poor positioning and unconvincing distribution have been scrutinised, and he has found life difficult against quick, powerful forwards such as Jean-Philippe Mateta and Victor Osimhen. Ongoing uncertainty over his future, amid Real Madrid interest, has added pressure with reports suggesting he appears increasingly likely to follow Trent Alexander-Arnold to the Santiago Bernabéu on a free transfer next summer.
Finally, the impact of new attacking personnel on team shape. Florian Wirtz, the £116 million German, has been used in the No.10 role and has not provided the same defensive protection or work rate as Dominik Szoboszlai. Mohamed Salah, after 34 goals and 23 assists last season, has three goals and three assists in nine appearances this term, has missed three big chances and has a 12.5% dribble success rate. Slot must find solutions to restore balance without sacrificing the attacking firepower.
Bournemouth
Early returns: Premier League summer signings that have struggled so far
Early evidence suggests several costly summer signings have struggled to justify their transfer fees
More than £3 billion ($4 billion) and 155 incoming transfers set high expectations across the Premier League this summer. Several recruits have settled quickly, but others have produced worrying initial returns that have left managers and supporters asking questions.
Everton’s Thierno Barry arrived from Villarreal after a season that yielded 11 goals and four assists. The 22-year-old joined for £27 million ($36 million) with time to adapt, but he remains behind Beto, has made two Premier League starts, nine appearances in total and is still searching for his first goal or assist for the club. On two occasions he was substituted early: at half time at Anfield and after about an hour at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
West Ham’s £20 million ($26.7 million) signing Mads Hermansen began the campaign as Graham Potter’s first-choice goalkeeper but has endured a difficult start. The 25-year-old conceded 11 times in four appearances, sustained several high-profile errors and has dropped behind Alphonse Areola with Nuno Espírito Santo opting against an early recall.
Anthony Elanga moved to Newcastle for £55 million ($73.4 million) after scoring 18 goals for Nottingham Forest in 2024–25. The 23-year-old has made 10 appearances for the Magpies without a goal or assist and has oscillated between starting and the bench while competing with Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes and Jacob Murphy.
Jean-Clair Todibo’s permanent move to West Ham cost £32.8 million ($43.8 million) after an obligation to buy. He has fallen out of favour following disciplinary issues under Potter and is unlikely to figure under Espírito Santo.
James Trafford returned to Manchester City for £31 million ($41.3 million) but is now behind Gianluigi Donnarumma and has been restricted to the bench following a difficult display against Tottenham Hotspur.
Alexander Isak joined Liverpool for a Premier League record £125 million ($166.9 million) but missed pre-season after a strike. Arne Slot has eased him in, using him alongside Hugo Ekitiké, with the record signing yet to reach expected levels.
Newcastle paid £55 million ($73.4 million) for Yoane Wissa from Brentford, but a knee injury means he is yet to play for his new club and has only two competitive appearances since the end of last season.
Chelsea’s £51.5 million ($68.7 million) addition Jamie Gittens has made seven appearances and three starts without making a major impact. At Liverpool, Milos Kerkez arrived for £40 million ($53.4 million) to succeed Andy Robertson but has made a sluggish start, was bullied on his debut by Antoine Semenyo and was hooked in the first half against Burnley as he edged toward a red card.
It remains early and circumstances differ across clubs, but the opening weeks have provided enough evidence to raise concerns about several high-cost recruits.
Bayern Munich
Upamecano contract standoff gives Liverpool and Real Madrid an opening
Upamecano seeks a large signing fee, leaving Bayern and suitors Liverpool, Real Madrid and PSG plus
Bayern Munich face a serious negotiation impasse with Dayot Upamecano as the defender weighs his options ahead of free agency. Club officials have publicly stated a desire to keep him, but recent suggestions of progress were dismissed by Christian Falk.
According to reporting, a basic agreement on salary exists but the dispute centres on a signing-on payment. Alphonso Davies is reported to have received close to €20 million (£17.4 million, $23.2 million) to turn down Real Madrid and extend last year, and Upamecano is seeking a comparable package. The gap between the parties is described as “very, very big”, and Bayern are unlikely to match the terms a player could command on a free transfer.
Florian Plettenberg says Upamecano will not lower his demands and has made it clear he would happily walk away next summer if the club will not meet his conditions. “Top clubs” are already moving, with Liverpool specifically named by German reporters and Fabrizio Romano listing Liverpool alongside Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain as potential suitors.
Interest from those clubs has reportedly been formalised with Upamecano’s representatives. The France international remains settled in Munich and would be prepared to sign an extension if his demands were satisfied, but he is free to discuss overseas moves from January.
The situation also sits within a wider market context: Upamecano and Ibrahima Konaté, former teammates at RB Leipzig, are among several central defenders attracting attention, and Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi is named as another figure of interest to much of Europe’s elite, including both Liverpool and Madrid. Players who leave on free transfers commonly receive substantial signing-on fees, reflecting the ability of buying clubs to reallocate funds saved by not paying a transfer fee.
Chelsea
Diego Costa shown yellow after heated return in Chelsea legends charity match
Diego Costa returned to Chelsea in a charity friendly, booked after clashes with Martin Škrtel. Sat.
Diego Costa returned to Chelsea on Saturday and did so in familiar fashion, picking up a yellow card after squaring up to Martin Škrtel during a charity friendly. The match ended with Liverpool claiming victory through a late Ryan Babel goal, but Costa’s presence dominated the conversation.
Several confrontations with Škrtel followed a physical challenge from Costa, with the clash culminating in a booking for a reaction that briefly overshadowed the charity context. The pair have a well-documented Premier League history: Costa received a three-match ban after being found guilty of stamping on Škrtel in 2015, and months later avoided punishment for what appeared to be a kick in Škrtel’s direction.
Their latest incident did not carry the same fallout. The two appeared to make up after the final whistle, an outcome Costa underlined with an Instagram post following the game.
Those familiar with Costa’s Chelsea career between 2014 and 2018 will recognise the temperament on display. The striker scored 59 goals in 120 appearances for the club, won two Premier League titles, and collected 32 yellow cards at Stamford Bridge without receiving a straight red.
“Of course, this guy [Costa] is still the same, we saw it!” former teammate Eden Hazard, who also featured in the game, reflected.
Costa has not played competitively since being released by Grêmio in January this year. His time at the Brazilian club included a notable sending off during a fitness-building Under-20 friendly for an on-field fight in September 2024. He finished his spell at Grêmio with eight goals in 26 games.
He has not formally retired, and whether he is actively seeking a new club remains unclear.
